Shinya Aoki has won 10 of his last 11 fights. | Photo: Taro
Irei/Sherdog.com

At the behest of Evolve MMA founder and head coach Chatri
Sityodtong, reigning
One Fighting Championship lightweight titleholder Shinya Aoki
will test the unfamiliar waters of the 145-pound division.

Aoki will make his anticipated featherweight debut when he meets
Cody
Stevens at One
FC 11 “Total Domination” on Friday at Singapore Indoor Stadium
in Kallang, Singapore. The event’s undercard will stream live and
free to Sherdog.com at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT.

“Sityodtong asked me to [move to 145 pounds],” said Aoki, who has
also competed as a welterweight. “He believes that I am too small
to be a lightweight. I want to be the best that I can be.”

Aoki has reason to trust Sityodtong. A muay Thai fighter out of
Thailand and kru of the art who also considers himself a Brazilian
jiu-jitsu practitioner, Sityodtong has received numerous awards
over the last two years recognizing his influence on the mixed
martial arts scene in Asia.

“I believe that we will see the best Aoki ever at 145 pounds,”
Sityodtong said. “Aoki’s size, reach and height at 145 pounds
remind me of UFC champion Jon Jones.”

Such comparisons may take on deeper meaning soon. Now that
Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts and Evolve MMA have forged a
partnership, Aoki and Jones figure to train with one another at
some point in the future. Aoki’s decision to redefine himself as a
featherweight was made months ago, and he has already made test
weight cuts in preparation for the change. The former Dream and
Shooto
champion believes he has found a place of permanence at 145
pounds.

“Everything has been good in training,” he said. “I am faster. My
new home is 145 pounds. Of course, I have no idea how it will feel
in a real fight.”

If Aoki indeed remains at featherweight, it could open the door for
his teammate, Eddie Ng, to make
a run at the One FC crown at 155 pounds.

“Eddie has a lot of potential,” Aoki said. “He is a natural
lightweight.”

Aoki has yet to defend the lightweight championship he won with a
rear-naked choke submission against Kotetsu Boku
in April, but he has discussed his current plans with One FC
President Victor Cui.

“Victor and I spoke a few times,” Aoki said. “I want to fight at
145 pounds from now on. He would like me to defend my lightweight
title. I will do whatever he asks. I will fight anyone they put in
front of me.”

For now, Aoki has been granted the opportunity to compete at
featherweight. He will first face Stevens, an American wrestler out
of Ohio who enters One FC on the strength of back-to-back wins.
Stevens last fought in August, when he earned a majority decision
over “The Ultimate Fighter” alum Dustin Neace.
Aoki feels confident his Evolve MMA team, which includes Olympian
Heath
Sims and former NCAA All-American wrestler Jake Butler,
will prepare him for what Stevens brings to the table.

“Heath and Jake are amazing in wrestling,” Aoki said. “I have
learned so much at Evolve [and] not just wrestling. All of the
world champions here in muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing,
submission grappling ... they help me in everything.”